Rolex Submariner Date 116610LN: Modern Classic in Stainless Steel

Introduction

When Rolex presented the Submariner Date 116610LN at Baselworld 2010, the brand fused six decades of dive-watch heritage with contemporary engineering. The model retained the familiar 40 mm Oyster profile introduced in 1953 yet introduced a ceramic bezel insert, updated bracelet architecture, and refined lume technology. In the ten-year production window that ended in 2020, the reference became the benchmark for everyday tool-watch durability and design continuity.

Evolution of the Submariner to 116610LN

Rolex’s Submariner journey began with no-date references aimed at professional divers, then morphed into the 1680 Date in 1969 for broader daily wear. Each successive generation added incremental gains—sapphire crystal in 1979, unidirectional bezel in 1988, and solid end-links in 2000. The 116610LN built on its immediate predecessor 16610 by adding a super-case with broader crown guards, the proprietary Cerachrom bezel, a Maxi dial with larger indices, and the GlideLock clasp for on-the-fly adjustment. Together these updates marked the biggest aesthetic shift since the arrival of sapphire.

Case and Materials

The 116610LN case measures 40 mm across, 48 mm lug-to-lug, and 12.5 mm thick. Rolex machines the middle case from a solid block of 904L-grade steel—renamed Oystersteel in 2018—selected for superior corrosion resistance in salt water. A triplock crown threads into the middle case via triple synthetic gaskets, ensuring 300 m water resistance without external crown guards protruding beyond the broader shoulders of the super-case. The “LN” suffix denotes “lunette noir,” French for black bezel, the model’s only colourway during its tenure.

Cerachrom Bezel Insert

Cerachrom, Rolex’s proprietary zirconium-oxide ceramic, replaced aluminium in 2010 and delivered three primary advantages: near-imperviousness to UV fading, scratch resilience that rivals sapphire, and a higher gloss finish that shifts between charcoal and jet black depending on ambient light. Platinum PVD coats the recessed numerals and graduations, adding contrast without applying separate paint. The unidirectional rotation features 120 ratcheting clicks for precise timing, and a knurled coin edge allows easy grip even when wearing dive gloves.

Dial and Hands

Rolex equipped the reference with a “Maxi” dial—an arrangement first used on the 16610LV anniversary model—where indices swell for extra legibility. Each white-gold surround holds Chromalight lume, which emits a blue glow Rolex claims lasts up to eight hours. The Mercedes hour hand, sword-style minute hand, and lollipop seconds hand also carry Chromalight. Dial text remains restrained: two lines at 12 o’clock for the coronet and brand, then three lines at six detailing model and chronometer status. A cyclops bubble magnifies the date at three by 2.5×, now laser-cut and polished as part of the flat sapphire rather than glued on.

Calibre 3135 Movement

Inside beats the calibre 3135, Rolex’s workhorse automatic since 1988. It runs at 28 800 vph, offers 48 hours of power reserve, and includes hacking seconds. A Glucydur balance wheel works with a free-sprung Microstella regulator for shock stability, while the Parachrom hairspring—made of niobium and zirconium—resists magnetic fields and temperature variation. The movement earns the Superlative Chronometer rating; Rolex adjusts the watch to −2/+2 seconds per day after cased testing, doubling COSC’s stand-alone chronometer standard.

Bracelet and Clasp

The Oyster bracelet on the 116610LN consists of fully solid links in 904L steel. Centre links carry a subtle polish, flanked by brushed outers that match the case flanks. Screw-set removable links simplify sizing. The clasp hides two innovations: an internal milled safety catch and the GlideLock system. GlideLock allows 20 mm of tool-free extension in 2 mm increments, enabling a quick shift over a wetsuit sleeve or simply for wrist comfort on warm afternoons. A flip-lock wetsuit extension adds a further 26 mm when required.

Bezel, Case and Dial Symmetry

Rolex widened the lugs and crown guards versus the 16610, giving the watch a squarer stance nicknamed the “super-case.” Combined with the mirror-polished ceramic insert, larger lume plots, and broader hands, the watch feels more substantial on the wrist even though dimensions remain nominally identical. The sapphire crystal rises fractionally above the bezel, warding off side impacts yet maintaining a flat profile that refuses to distort dial markings at shallow angles.

Water Resistance and Practical Use

Rolex tests each assembled case to 375 m—25 percent beyond the rated 300 m—to ensure margin for manufacturing tolerances. The triplock crown includes three O-ring positions: one at the crown tube opening, one inside the crown, and one below the threaded tube to guard against intrusion if the upper seal fails. Combined with the screw-down caseback and unidirectional bezel, the 116610LN meets ISO 6425 dive-watch requirements despite Rolex not submitting the watch for that certification.

Modern Refinements versus Heritage DNA

Although the 116610LN introduced many contemporary materials, it intentionally preserved design cues laid down in the 1950s: Mercedes handset, dot-triangle-rectangle indices, and a dial free of bright colours. The bezel numerals copy the aluminium insert font used since the late 1960s, and lug holes remain deleted as first seen on the 16610 in the early 2000s. Even the calibre 3135 continues the lineage started with the 3035 in 1977, differing mainly in escapement metallurgy and hair-spring design rather than architecture.

Production Run and Successor

Rolex produced the reference from 2010 until September 2020, at which point it unveiled the 41 mm Submariner Date 126610LN with calibre 3235 and slimmer lugs. While production numbers remain undisclosed, the ten-year span places the 116610LN in the company of long-running classics such as the 16610.

Influence on Later Rolex Sport Models

The super-case, Cerachrom bezel, Chromalight lume, and GlideLock clasp pioneered on the 116610LN migrated to the GMT-Master II 116710LN, Sea-Dweller 116600, and Yacht-Master 126622. Today these features define Rolex’s professional range, demonstrating how the Submariner often serves as an R&D vanguard within the catalogue.

Environmental Testing

Rolex subjects each Submariner to thermal cycling between −20 °C and +40 °C, salt-spray corrosion baths, and shock impacts registering up to 5 000 g—well beyond typical recreational diving incidents. The Cerachrom insert withstands exposure to UV lamps without colour shift, a claim borne out by decade-old specimens that still match factory pantone. The Parachrom hairspring’s paramagnetic alloy resists the 1 000 gauss fields common near smartphone speakers and handbag clasps, avoiding the need for a soft-iron inner case found in Rolex’s Milgauss line.

Practical Everyday Wearing

A fully loaded bracelet tips the scale around 160 g, balanced by the low-slung movement and tight gap between spring-bars and case, so the watch stays centred on the wrist. The 20 mm lug width matches dozens of aftermarket straps, though the Glidelock bracelet remains the most secure option for aquatic activities thanks to its internal safety latch.

Comparative Notes with the 16610 and 126610

Against the aluminium-bezel 16610, the 116610LN offers better scratch and fade resistance, stronger lume, and a more substantial clasp. Compared with its successor 126610LN, the reference cedes three power-reserve hours and a slimmer case flank but keeps a cleaner lug-guard line some prefer for symmetry. These differences illustrate Rolex’s incremental approach: each generation refines but rarely overturns the essential template.

Final Thoughts

The Rolex Submariner Date 116610LN crystallises six decades of dive-watch development into a single reference. Ceramic, maxi indices, and an intuitive clasp deliver contemporary practicality, while the core profile, handset, and 3135 movement preserve continuity stretching back to 1953. Produced for a straight decade, the model bridges traditional 40 mm Submariners and today’s slightly larger 41 mm line, leaving a footprint that will inform design language across future professional Rolex releases.

• The case is in excellent condition, hairlines visible.
• Bracelet remains extremely sharp and shows minimal signs of wear.
• Bracelet includes full links.

Dial & hands are flawless.